Junior's Famous Cheesecake

Step 1

Sponge cake: Preheat the oven to 350 F and generously butter a 9-inch springform pan.

Step 2

Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt together ina medium sized bowl and set aside.

Step 3

Beat the egg yolks together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high for 3 minutes.

Step 4

Then, with the mixer still running, gradually add the 1/3 cup of sugar and continue beating until thick light-yellow ribbons form in the bowl, about 5 minutes more.

Step 5

Beat in the vanilla and lemon extracts.

Step 6

Sift the flour mixture over the batter and stir it in by hand until mo more white flecks appear.

Step 7

Then blend in the butter.

Step 8

In a clean bowl, using clean dry beaters, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together on high until frothy.

Step 9

Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form (the whites should stand up in stiff peaks, but not be dry).

Step 10

Stir about 1/3 cup of the whites into the batter, then gently fold in the remaining whites (don't worry if a few white specks remain).

Step 11

Gently spoon the batter into the pan.

Step 12

Bake the cake just until the center of the cake springs back when lightly touched, only about 10 minutes (watch carefully!) Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack while you continue making the cheesecake filling.

Step 13

Do not remove the cake from the pan.

Step 14

Cream Cheese Filling---------------.

Step 15

Place one 8-ounce package of the cream cheese, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and the cornstarch in a large bowl.

Step 16

Beat with an electric mixer on low until creamy, about 3 minutes, then beat in the remaining 3 packages of the cream cheese.

Step 17

Increase the mixer speed to high and beat in the remaining 1 1/3 cups of the sugar, then beat in the vanilla.

Step 18

Blend in the eggs, one at a time, beating the batter well after each one.

Step 19

Blend in heavy cream.

Step 20

At this point mix the filling only until completely blended (just like they do at Junior's) Be careful not to overmix the batter.

Step 21

Gently spoon the cheese filling on top of the baked sponge cake layer.

Step 22

Place the springform pan in a large shallow pan containing hot water that comes about 1 inch up the side of the pan.

Step 23

Bake the cheesecake until the center barely jiggles when you shake the pan, about 1 hour.

Step 24

Cool the cake on a wire rack for 1 hour.

Step 25

Then cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until it's completely cold, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Step 26

Remove the sides of the springform pan.

Step 27

Slide the cake off of the bottom of the pan onto a serving plate.

Step 28

Or, if you wish, simply leave the cake on the removable bottom of the pan and place it on a serving plate.

Step 29

Store any leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator.